US 6,634,630 B2 · Clamping and lifting mechanism

Abstract

A clamp for clampingly engaging a portion of a workpiece and for lifting the workpiece from a work surface. The clamp comprises a fluid actuated piston and cylinder assembly, a frame assembly, first and second clamp arms supported by the frame assembly for pivotal movement about respective first and second pivot axes and axial movement parallel to the longitudinal axis between an unclamped position and a clamped and lifted position, first and second pivot pins respectively defining the first and second pivot axes, first and second slider members respectively supported in first and second tracks for axial movement relative to frame assembly and respectively supporting the first and second pivot pins for axial movement along the first and second tracks relative to the frame assembly, first and second link pins supported proximate the opposite ends of the first and second clamp arms, respectively, the first link pin being movable along the first arcuate track and the first track and the second link pin being moveable along the second arcuate track and the second track, first and second link members connecting the first and second link pins, respectively, to the piston such that movement of piston between the extended position and the retracted position causes movement of the first and second clamp arms between the unclamped position and the clamped and lifted position.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A clamp for clampingly engaging a portion of a workpiece and for lifting the workpiece from a work surface, said clamp comprising:

a frame assembly defining a longitudinal axis and a track, the frame assembly including a body portion formed of a first material and an insert connected to the body portion and formed of a second material, the second material being harder than the first material, the insert defining at least a portion of the track;
an actuating assembly supported by the frame assembly and including a movable member movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
a clamp arm supported by the frame assembly for pivotal movement about a pivot axis and for axial movement relative to the frame assembly along the longitudinal axis, the clamp arm being connected to the movable member so that the clamp arm is movable between an unclamped position, in which the workpiece is not clampingly engaged by the clamp arm, and a clamped and lifted position, in which the workpiece is clampingly engaged by the clamp arm and is lifted from the work surface by the clamp arm;
and
a pin supported by the frame assembly for movement in the track, the pin connecting the clamp arm and one of the frame assembly and the movable member.

2 more elements

A clamp for clampingly engaging a portion of a workpiece and for lifting the workpiece from a work surface, said clamp comprising:

a frame assembly defining a longitudinal axis and a track, the frame assembly including a body portion formed of a first material and an insert connected to the body portion and formed of a second material, the second material being harder than the first material, the insert defining at least a portion of the track;
an actuating assembly supported by the frame assembly and including a movable member movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
a clamp arm supported by the frame assembly for pivotal movement about a pivot axis and for axial movement relative to the frame assembly along the longitudinal axis, the clamp arm having a workpiece engaging end and an opposite end, the clamp arm being connected to the movable member so that the clamp arm is movable between an unclamped position, in which the workpiece is not clampingly engaged by the clamp arm, and a clamped and lifted position, in which the workpiece is clampingly engaged by the clamp arm and is lifted from the work surface by the clamp arm;
a link pin supported proximate the opposite end of the clamp arm for movement in the track;
and
a link member connecting the clamp arm and the link pin to the movable member such that movement of the movable member between the extended position and the retracted position causes movement of the clamp arm between the unclamped position and the clamped and lifted position.

3 more elements

A clamp for clampingly engaging a portion of a workpiece and for lifting the workpiece from a work surface, said clamp comprising:

a frame assembly defining a longitudinal axis and defining an axially extending track and an arcuate track, the frame assembly including a body portion formed of a first material and an insert connected to the body portion and formed of a second material, the second material being harder than the first material, the insert defining at least a portion of at least one of the axially extending track and the arcuate track;
an actuating assembly supported by the frame assembly and including a movable member movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
a clamp arm supported by the frame assembly for pivotal movement about a pivot axis and for axial movement relative to the frame assembly along the longitudinal axis, the clamp arm being connected to the movable member so that the clamp arm is movable between an unclamped position, in which the workpiece is not clampingly engaged by the clamp arm, and a clamped and lifted position, in which the workpiece is clampingly engaged by the clamp arm and is lifted from the work surface by the clamp arm;
and
a track follower pin supported by the clamp arm for movement in the axially extending track and the arcuate track.

2 more elements

A clamp for clampingly engaging a portion of a workpiece and for lifting the workpiece from a work surface, said clamp comprising:

a frame assembly defining a longitudinal axis and defining a first axially extending track, a first arcuate track, a second axially extending track and a second arcuate track, the frame assembly including a body portion formed of a first material and a first insert and a second insert connected to the body portion and formed of a second material, the second material being harder than the first material, the first insert defining at least a portion of one of the first axially extending track and the first arcuate track, the second insert defining at least a portion of the second axially extending track and the second arcuate track;
an actuating assembly supported by the frame assembly and including a movable member movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
a first clamp arm and a second clamp arm supported by the frame assembly for pivotal movement about respective a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis and for axial movement relative to the frame assembly along the longitudinal axis, the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm being connected to the movable member so that the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm are movable between an unclamped position, in which the workpiece is not clampingly engaged by the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm, and a clamped and lifted position, in which the workpiece is clampingly engaged by the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm and is lifted from the work surface by the first clamp arm and the second clamp arm;
a first track follower pin supported by the first clamp arm for movement in the first axially extending track and the first arcuate track;
and
a second track follower pin supported by the second clamp arm for movement in the second axially extending track and the second arcuate track.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Clamping and lifting mechanism

Life of this patent

Clamping and lifting mechanism

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39